OMAHA BEACH, France — Veterans gathered Friday on the beaches of Normandy to mark the 81st anniversary of the D-Day landings, a crucial World War II operation that helped end Adolf Hitler’s regime.
Tens of thousands of spectators are expected to attend the commemorations, which include parachute jumps, remembrance ceremonies, parades, and historical re-enactments.
Many came to honor the few surviving veterans, now in their late 90s or older, and to remember the thousands who lost their lives.
On June 6, 1944, Allied forces launched the largest military invasion in history against Nazi-occupied France. The D-Day assault involved an enormous fleet of ships, planes, vehicles, and troops to break through Hitler’s defenses in Western Europe. On that day alone, 4,414 Allied soldiers were killed.
The subsequent Battle of Normandy resulted in 73,000 Allied deaths and 153,000 wounded. The heavy fighting and Allied bombings also caused about 20,000 French civilian deaths.
German casualties during the D-Day invasion are less certain, but historians estimate between 4,000 and 9,000 German soldiers were killed, wounded, or missing.
Lt. Gen. Jason T. Hinds, deputy commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa, said, “The heroism, honor and sacrifice of the Allied forces on D-Day will always resonate with the U.S. Armed Forces and our Allies and partners across Europe. Let us remember those who flew and fell. Let us honor those who survived and came home to build a better world. And let us ensure that their sacrifice was not in vain by meeting today’s challenges with the same resolve, clarity of purpose, and commitment to freedom.”
Nearly 160,000 Allied troops landed on D-Day. Of these, 73,000 were American, and 83,000 were British and Canadian. Troops from other countries, including French forces loyal to General Charles de Gaulle, also took part. They faced roughly 50,000 German defenders.
Overall, more than 2 million Allied soldiers, sailors, pilots, medics, and support personnel from about a dozen countries participated in Operation Overlord, the campaign to liberate western France that began on D-Day.
